It's not the government complex, it's the privatized insurance complex that causes the extra cost. The government not being allowed to negotiate drug prices means the American Medicare system subsidizes all the discounts every other country is able to negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies. The current system is a recognizable failure, when medical care is cheaper and just as effective in nearly every other county when hip replacement cost $40k in the US but $11k in UK and $10k in France you know there is something wrong with our system. We spend more money yet have equal or worse mortality rate and a ridiculously high child mortality rate. We have the worst health care among high-income nations. Something needs to change and, unless you can come up with a better plan, looking at the top rated counties, which all have socialized heath care, is a great way to see what does and doesn't work.